There
was a time in this nation's history when conservative religious institutions
wielded a greater influence on personal lives and on government than they do
today.Men's belief in God and in his
word seemed to have made an impact on almost every phase of American life— from
the local schools to the Congress in Washington.What has happened in our society which has curtailed the
beneficent influence of churches and of religious schools?Liberal theologians and academicians think
the American people have become better educated and have cast aside the
superstitions which have held millions of men and women captive.One of America's most distinguished
evangelical scholars, Dr. Harold 0. J. Brown explores the reasons for the
decline in religious commitment in the United States.In his scholarly book, The Sensate Culture (Dallas: Word
Publishing, 1996), Dr. Brown lists voyages of discovery, the rise of biblical
criticism and the theory of evolution (p. 85).Dr. William Martin's new book, With God on Our Side (New York:
Broadway Books, 1996), lists two major challenges to what he calls "the
then-dominated form of American Christianity" which prevailed in the 19th
century: the Darwinian theory of evolution and radical historical criticism (p.
8).I agree with these scholars about
the detrimental influence of evolution on American religion in the 19th and
20th centuries.

Belief
in Darwin's theory of evolution has wreaked havoc with men's and women's faith
in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the deity of Christ, in the
inerrancy of the scriptures, in the atoning blood of Christ and in his glorious
second coming.Millions of men and
women worldwide have been adversely affected by evolution—even though evolution
is not true.Dr. Colin Patterson,
Director of the British Museum in London, says that evolution does not convey
any knowledge.In fact, he says it
produces anti-knowledge.Tragically and
inexplicably, Dr. Patterson has not renounced belief in evolution. Apparently,
Dr. Patterson would prefer to embrace anti-knowledge than accept the
creationism of the Bible.Besides, if
he were to announce belief in the creation story in the Bible he would probably
be released as Director of the British Museum and find it very difficult to
gain employment in any university in England or in the United States.You may think I am exaggerating somewhat,
but there is absolutely no question about it.Firm believers in divine creation could not be hired in many
universities in this nation.The
founding fathers are probably turning in their graves.

But
what if evolution were true?What
difference in our lives and in the affairs of this nation would it make?Would we be a healthier people physically,
spiritually and morally?Can evolution
provide any incentive to help the sick, feed the hungry, visit the fatherless
and orphans in their afflictions, sacrifice one's life for anyone or
anything?Would belief in evolution
make a man a better father and husband?Would it encourage women to be better wives and mothers? Has belief in
evolution ever inspired men and women to do good for anyone?Oh, evolutionists may do good for others,
but there is nothing in the theory which requires or encourages it.If evolution is true, our greatest desire
under all circumstances is to survive and prosper. Benevolence and evolution
are cut from different cloths.

The
Bible has been the source of hope and comfort for millions of people for almost
two thousand years.I personally know
hundreds of sincere, humble servants of the Lord who have memorized hundreds
and hundreds of passages, lived by biblical precepts all their lives, taught
their children and their neighbors to love and to obey the word of the Lord and
based their hope for eternity on the precious promises of God. Are we saying to
those people that their lives have been in vain, that there is nothing to the
teaching of scripture, except, perhaps, some good moral instructions?If evolution is true, that is precisely what
we are saying to them.Organic
evolution would prove the Bible to be a purely human production with no more
authority than that of any other book—even though the Bible claims to be the
very word of almighty God. But if evolution is true, it does not matter what
the Bible claims for itself.

What
if God does not exist--as organic evolution teaches—what if the Bible is a
purely human production--which evolutionists believe--how could that influence
men's and women's moral values and behavior?Is it possible that the enormous increase in crime and violence can be
laid at the feet of organic evolution?If we have ascended from the animals, where do we get our moral
values?Why do we use words like
"sin" and "error" when we speak of human behavior and never
when we talk about the animals?If we
are of animal ancestry, why not use the same language of both men and
dogs?Do you believe your dog is
morally responsible when he bites a human being?Do you require him to take a course in ethics?

If
evolutionists believe in moral values--and without a doubt, most of them
do--what is the source of those values?As many of you know, that question has troubled atheists, agnostics and
secular humanists for a long time.The
secular humanists of our generation conducted a symposium in which they
attempted to work out some values by which they and others could live.The papers which were presented at the
meeting were printed in a book with the title, Humanist Ethics, edited
by Dr. Morris Storer and published by Prometheus Books of Buffalo, New
York--the most prominent humanist publishing house in the United States.The introduction to the book was written by
the late Dr. Will Durant, one of humanism's and America's most brilliant
historians of philosophy.You need to
hear what Dr. Durant said about the possibility of humanism's developing a
system of moral values which they and others could adopt."We shall find it no easy task,"
Dr. Durant says, "to mold a natural ethic strong enough to maintain moral
restraint and social order without the support of supernatural consolations,
hopes and fears" (p. 8).Another
chapter in the book, Humanist Ethics, was written by Dr. Alastair
Hannay, professor of philosophy at the University of Trondheim in Norway.Dr. Hannay’s words are worth hearing."Humanists naturally want to believe
that we have moral obligations, duties in some virtually legalistic sense, but
not the product of arbitrary legislation, to one another.But on what can the belief be based?The divine legislator and guarantor of human
values has gone by the board, but the human legislator doesn't seem to have the
credentials" (p. 187).Both Durant
and Hannay have admitted the emptiness and meaninglessness of every form of
unbelief.There is no way under heaven
evolution can provide and enforce a coherent system of moral values.Evolution creates a dog-eat-dog world.The only reason it has not happened is the
residual influence of New Testament Christianity.Even evolutionists are often influenced by their early training
in Sunday school classes and in religious homes.

Dr.
Alastair Hannay's question should be examined a little more in depth.He asked, "On what can the belief in
moral obligations be based?"He
argues that the divine legislator and guarantor of human values has gone by the
board.In other words, humanists—most
of whom are evolutionists—have rejected God and his revelation given in the
Bible.They cannot base their moral
values and obligations on the scriptures; so where do they go to sustain their
moral lives?Can they go to tradition?
What authority does tradition have?Can
they go to human reason?Whose reason
will prevail? Will it be a Hitler or a Pol Pot or a Khadafi? Can they decide by
the will of the majority? Humanists have no foundation for their ethical
views."Every man does that which
is right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6).As you can readily see, organic evolution is not exactly a benign
theory.

Dr.
Antony Flew, an English atheist, wrote a book several years ago on Evolutionary
Ethics.He attempted to find some
naturalistic basis for human values and ethical principles.As you would expect—even if you have not
read his book—Dr. Flew miserably failed in his search.Every humanist and every evolutionist will
fail because there is no other basis than the will of God for grounding our
moral and ethical values.Let me
illustrate.Across the United
States—especially in many of our large cities—there are violent gangs who kill
each other on a daily basis.They rape
and rob and commit murder without any compunction of conscience.By what standard can anyone condemn such
behavior?I know what the Bible says,
but let us forget the Bible for just a moment. Can an evolutionist consistently
oppose the violence of gangs?Are not
the gangs living by the survival of the fittest?Can evolutionists and secular humanists prove that murder, theft
and sexual assault are morally wrong every time everywhere?By what standard?They could say they do not like it, but that sounds like children
explaining their actions.

Since we have descended from
the animals--according to evolution--where do we get an ethical framework for
supporting or opposing any act?If the
fit are the ones who survive, does that not furnish the impetus for those who
think they are most fit for doing whatever they please?The weak do not deserve to survive and will
not in the long run.If cheating in
business or in the professions will advance one's interests, why not engage in
any kind of behavior--if one can evade the punishment of the law—and the
majority of criminals in this country are able to do that?Besides, how can an evolutionist decide what
criminal behavior is—except on the basis of arbitrary law?If the law is arbitrary and has no moral
basis, why pay any attention to the law?

It
is true that most evolutionists do not live by their naturalistic creed and
many who call themselves Christians fail in their duties to God and to their
fellowmen, but what if both lived consistently with their professions? Would
you prefer to live near an evolutionist who believes we all came from animals
and that the fittest survive?Or would
you prefer to live by a devout Christ whose aim in live is to serve God and his
fellowmen?If the evolutionist shows
compassion toward his fellowmen—and many of them do--it is not required by his
belief system. On the other hand, Christians are morally obligated to
help-others.The apostle Paul commanded
the Philippians: "Look not every man on his own welfare, but every man
also on the welfare of others" (Phil. 2:4).These words from the mouth of Jesus Christ were designed to
govern all human interactions."Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do unto
you, do even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Mt.
7:12).Is any evolutionist under moral
obligation to live by the golden rule?Are not all Christians bound by the law of God to live by the golden
rule?

You can readily see from our discussion that
evolution not only would rob man of any solid foundation for behavior; it would
also rob him of any hope for the life to come.I know you have thought about the significance of hope for human
beings.The Hebrew writer calls hope
"the anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast."Hope "enters into that which is behind
the veil; whither our forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus Christ, made an
high priest forever after the order of Melchisedek" (Heb. 6:19-20).Paul describes the condition of the Gentiles
before they heard the gospel and obeyed it.He affirmed that the Gentiles were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel, and strangersfrom the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the
world" (Eph. 2:12).Can you
imagine a condition worse than having no hope?From the evolutionist's viewpoint, we know when this life ends there is
nothing beyond or above.We die and
perish from the face of the earth—never to live again--never to seek our loved
ones and friends anymore.If the
evolutionists are right—and they definitely are not—we will just have to live
with this pessimistic and nihilistic worldview.

But
what if the evolutionists were right?If they are, then Jesus was not.Jesus assured his faithful followers: "Let not your heart be
troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you.I go to prepare a
place for you.And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am
there you may be also" (John 14:1-3).The evolutionist's faith leaves him in the grave to decay and to
disappear forever.The Christian's hope
takes him home to live with God, with Christ and with the saints of all the
ages.

If evolution were true, it
would rule out the existence of God; it would make the death of Christ both
cruel and unnecessary; it would prove the Bible to be a human production; it
would destroy the basis for all moral values; it would rob all human beings of
any hope for the life to come.Can you
understand why evolutionists often find life dull, cruel and meaningless?These words from one of England's most
famous agnostics, Bertrand Russell, will serve to challenge your thinking on
the topic I am discussing with you."That man is the product of causes which had no prevision of the
end they were achieving; that his origin, his growth, his hopes and fears, his
loves and his beliefs, are the outcome of accidental collocations of atoms;
that no fire, no heroism, no intensity of thought and feeling, can preserve any
individual beyond the grave; that all the labor of the ages, all the devotion,
all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness of human genius, are destined
to extinction in the vast death of the solar system, and that the whole temple
of man's achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe
in ruins—all these things, if not quite beyond dispute, are yet so nearly
certain, that no philosophy which rejects them can hope to stand....Brief and
powerless is man's life; on him and all his race the slow, sure doom falls
pitiless and dark."

If
you listened carefully to my reading from Bertrand Russell's godless
philosophy, you can understand why he and his first wife Dora were notoriously
immoral.What is there in his
philosophy which prohibits any behavior he chose for himself or for
others?Oddly enough, he did not want
his only daughter who married a missionary to be sexually immoral. He
encouraged her to choose her life's partner carefully and to govern her life
according to moral principles--although, he did not give her any substantial
principles to guide her behavior.But a
man's own conduct may be very different for what he wishes for his
children--especially for his daughters.It is impossible for an evolutionist to be consistent and live among
civilized human beings.

My friends, evolution is
false and destructive.But you do not
have to live by this godless, Christless, hopeless philosophy.In the words of the prophet Daniel,
"There is a God in heaven" (Dan. 2:28). That God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).The Son of God commands us to believe in him, to repent of our sins, to
confess our faith before men and to be baptized for the remission of sins.When we have initially obeyed the gospel, we
are to live for him all the days of our life.After this life is over, we are going to be raised by the power of God
to an endless life of happiness and joy."Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ" (1 Cor. 15:57).If you
have not obeyed the gospel of Christ, will you not do it today?If you have become a Christian and turned
your back on your Savior, will you not come back to him today? Like the father
in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, our heavenly Father waits to welcome you
back into his arms.Will you not return
to him today?